Australia’s slow march towards a National Energy Guarantee is gathering pace

The finer policy details of the of the proposed National Energy Guarantee (NEG) have begun to leak onto newspaper front pages and websites, ahead of Friday’s crucial meeting of federal and state energy ministers.

Is the long journey towards a bipartisan emissions policy nearing its end?

The good news is that the leaked information suggests solid progress has been made over the past couple of months on both the emissions and reliability components of the policy.

Many of the more extreme and dramatic suggestions contained in the Energy Security Board’s February consultation paper appear to have died a quiet death. What we’re left with is a more sober proposal that does its best to use existing markets and practices – more evolution than revolution.

Read the story from The Conversation by a Grattan Institute Energy Fellow, David Blowers - “Australia’s slow march towards a National Energy Guarantee is gathering pace.”

‘Detrimental': government pressured to compromise on energy plan.

The federal government must overhaul its centrepiece power policy or suffer defeat at a crucial meeting with states and territories, the ACT government has signalled after a report found the package risked driving up electricity prices and may not reduce the chance of blackouts.

Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg is on Wednesday
expected to urge the states to adopt the national energy guarantee.

Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is due to address the National Press Club on Wednesday, when he is expected to issue a rallying cry to states and territories to sign up to the national energy guarantee and end the ideological stalemate that has paralysed Australia's climate policy for more than a decade.

But the ACT government – geographically Australia’s smallest jurisdiction – has received expert advice that cast serious doubt on aspects of the package, and on Tuesday warned it will not back a plan that is “detrimental” to its constituents.

The Turnbull government needs unanimous support to change electricity laws at a Council of Australian Governments’ energy ministers meeting in Melbourne next week.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Age - “‘Detrimental': government pressured to compromise on energy plan.”